Clasp



Feb. 2, 1937. s, RITTER 2,069,559

CLASP v Filed Dec. l0, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR .55M 2?/7'75? ATTORNEY y S.RHTER V Feb. Z, 1937.

CLASPl Filed Deo.

lO, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 I 1 Y 2,059,559

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE cLAsP Saul Ritter, Far Rockaway, N. Y. Application December 10, 1932, serial No. 646,587

4 claims. (C1. 24-71) This invention relates to a clasp or buckle and Fig. 3 is a top View of the clasp with the front relates particularly to a draw buckle for wrist plate removed; watch straps or the like. i Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the clasp in Wrist watches are held on the wrist by a band an open position with the foldableelements partly 5 or strap which may be of any suitable material open; 5 as of leather or metal. A preferable construc- Fig. 5 is a View taken on line V--V in Fig. 3; tion comprises a band of links attached to the Fig. 6 is a View taken on line VI-VI in Fig.V 3; sides of a watch and having a clasp or buckle for Fig. 7 is a View taken on line VII-VII in Fig. 3; attaching or detaching the band. Many forms Fig. 8 is a view taken on line VIII-VIII in of clasps have been used and it has been found Fig. 3; 10 preferable to provide a clasp which does not sep- Fig. 9 is a View taken 0n lille IX-IX in Fig- 3; arate but expands, i, e., increases the length of Fg- 10 iS 2' View 0f a p12-te haVng 2' 10Cking the strap so that it may be slipped over the wrist. tongue formed therein, and If a clasp of this type is opened the watch will Fig. l1 is a view showing the Milking-tongue l5 hang loosely upon the wrist but the danger of and release member in operative relation. l5 entire accidental removal is eliminated. Inas- The present clasp may comprise a housing I0 much as the distance around the wrists of difwhich is preferably in the form of a flattened ferent persons varies it is essential to provide a tubular member of arc shape to conform to the strap which will have a certain amount of adcontour of the wrist on which it lies when holding justment. i a watchin place. An end II of the housing may 20 Furthermore, since `a wrist watch strap is worn be connected .in any suitable manner as by a in a conspicuous position and lis usually worn hinge, to an end of a section I2 of a strap, the continually, it is desirable to have the strap as Opposite end 0f WhCh may be` attahed t0 a neat appearing and as simple as possible and Watch I3. A section I4 of the strap may be hingg5 particularly the buckle or clasp. Heretofore edly connected to an end I5 of a strip I6. AThe 25 many clasps were made but they included a cumopposite end of strip I6 is connected by a hinge bersome arrangement of elements which were Il to oneend of a strip I8. The other end of bulky and to some extent lacked a neat and symthe strip I8 is connected by a hinge I9 to a slide metrical appearance. member or strip 2i). The parts I6, I8 and 20 are,

It is an object of the present invention to proby reason of their hinged connections, foldable 30 vide a simple and effective clasp for a wrist watch to constitute a member equal to the length of one strap; of the strips and when so folded are slidable into Another object of the invention is to provide or out from the housing through an end opening a clasp in which the movable elements are en- 2l. The slide member is provided with guide lugs closed while the watch is in use; 22 disposed in lateral slots 23 on the inner side 35 Another object of the invention is to provide walls of the housing and a stop 24 prevents a a strap with a clasp of elements arranged to be removal of the member 2U. folded or unfolded to shorten or lengthen the For the purpose of holding the folded parts strap; Within the housing the slide member 20 is pro- Another object of the invention is to provide vided with a series of teeth 25 which engage a 40 a clasp having elements arranged to be folded Spring tOIlgue 26. The tongue 26 S flmed IOm to bring a watch and strap in close relation to a plate 21 which is suitably secured in the housthe persons wrist and adjustable to more closely ing. When the slide member carrying the folded fit the wrist. strips is moved into the housing, the tongue 26 Other objects and advantages of the invention engages the teeth 25 and holds the folded parts 45 will be more clearly understood by reference to in any on-e of a number of positions, depending the following description together with the acon how much the wearer wishes to shorten the companying drawings in which, strap.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a clasp construc- For the purpose of releasing the parts within tion in accordance with the present invention, the housing a release or unlocking member 28 50 a portion of a strap and a watch being indicated is provided. 'Ihis member comprises a bifurin dotted lines; cated element having two elastic arms 29 and Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the 3o with opposite relatively sharp edges 3| and 32 clasp in a closed position taken on line II-II in normally disposed on opposite sides of the tongue Fig. 1; 26 and so arranged that when moved toward each 55 other they engage the tongue andpress it out 30'respectively. These members extend through apertures in the housing and may be pressed togetherV to release the teeth and permit the claspV to open.

It willV be noted that the slide member 2n, as Well'as the strips I6 and |78 are curved to con-` form to the curve of the housing and vvhen-V disposed thereinthe resiliency of these elements holds-them tensionally in place and the slide Y Y c gaged by the tongue 26.

Y.unfolding of fthe-parts IGY and I8 forthe member is'firmly held to have the teeth ZSfen- Furthermore it WillV be A quick increase in length is had by an quickY strips.

removal of the strap.

The present construction provides a buckle in I V'which' the movable parts, serving to give length which-*act as retainer means serve to`hold.A the unit in differentpositions While extending from the housing or entirely VWithin the'housing. The

retainer means Vmake itV possible to provide 'for anradjustment of the strap Vto t thewrist by moving the'foldedstrips or unit intov the housing. It` is also possible by reason of the present Vcnistriic-tion''to conveniently and quickly'make adjustments to ei-thertighten the strapA or loosen it. This Vis an advantage since Whenattempting Y. totighten a 'strapY it often happens that the strap isY pulled too tight and `an opposite adjustment is desired which can vbe accomplished by actuatingtheretainer means. The present embdiment of the' invention shows iiat metallic strips als made Y from sheet Y metal but ity is Yevident that these V'strips maybe' of open Work construction'Y or other- Wise formedto give a pleasing appearance-or to Vhave a design to conform with the general design ofrthezremaining portions of 'the strap.

YVAlthough a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown anddescribed herein, it isto be understood that modioations may be` made therein Without departing from the spirit and o are folded. Y l

scope of the .invention as-set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. A. buckle for a strap comprising a housing, a plurality of strips, means for hingedly connecting saidstrips end to end toV be folded, `means for slidably retaining an end of one of said strips in said housing, said slidable strip serving to carry said other'strips when folded and moved endwise into said housing, spring-actuated means within saidhousing cooperatingwith means on one vof Ysaid strips'for holding said foldedV strips in ad- Y :justed relation top said housingl land means'mov- Y Y j able transverse to thel movement of said slidable seen that the foldable y Vpartsearethree innumber and thatthepart VI8 Yopens away from the wrist as `the folded-parts are-slid out'of the housing and the length ofthe Y strap is increased by the length of theffolded strip for rendering said spring actuated means -inoperative Y Y Y 2. Arbuckle fora strap comprising a housing,

aplurality of strips, means forhingedly connecting said strips end to end to be folded, means for slidably retaining an end of Yone of `said stripsin 2 said housing, said slidabl'e strip serving to carryi` said 'other strips when folded'into said housing,

Yteeth on one of said strips,a spring tongue within Y said housing for engaging 4said teeth, and means' Y "external' of said housing for actuatingv saidV spring iff ftonguer f f Y 3. A buckle for a strapV comprising a housing,

Ya plurality offoldable yconnected strips, a slid able member in said housing, a hinge' connecting one end of one of said strips to said sl'id'ablemem-k ber to receive saidstripsiwhen folded,`rneans'VV Within said Vhousing cooperating with meansv on said slidable member for holding 'the folded strips.

in different Vpositions relative to said housing and 1 dering the same inoperative. 1

Y 45AV Yconnector for joining two sections Vof aY- strapv comprising a covermemberconnected to n one of Ysaid sections, a plurality'of foldable'memcover member, an extension members'lidable in to lift said paWl from engagementwith said teeth to release said extension member whereby said sections may be separated while `said members Y SAUL RITTER.

Vsaid cover and having an `enel connected to the Votherjof said sections, a-pawl andV teeth Acarried by'saidcover and extension member, and manu- A ally operable means slidable withinsaidhousing for engagement With the under side of said pawl 

